AC/DC Reaches A Historic Milestone With The Song That Won’t Stop Selling

AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” is a once-in-a-century kind of hit. The track not only defines the band’s time together, but it’s also recognized as one of the most successful in hard rock history. Few tunes have come close to matching its ubiquity and commercial success. Decades after its release, the cut remains a staple — and at least in the United States, it’s a consistent bestseller.

This week is especially notable for “Thunderstruck” on one Billboard ranking, as it reaches a milestone that very few compositions will come close to achieving.

“Thunderstruck” Celebrates a Decade as a Bestseller

On the latest edition of the Rock Digital Song Sales chart — the Billboard tally that ranks the bestselling rock-only tracks in the nation — “Thunderstruck” climbs from No. 15 to No. 9. As it holds on, and even improves, the tune celebrates 520 frames on the list. This period makes it a complete decade as one of the top-selling cuts in that style in the largest music market in the world.

AC/DC’s First Winner of This Kind

“Thunderstruck” is AC/DC’s first track to spend 520 weeks on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart. It’s easily the band’s longest-running success. The runner-up, “Back in Black,” has only managed to remain on the tally for 127 stays. “Thunderstruck” eclipses that total four times over. Those two titles are the only ones in the group’s discography to make it to triple digit stays on this purchases-only roster.

“Thunderstruck” Beats Every Other Bestseller

“Thunderstruck” surpasses every other smash AC/DC has sent to the Rock Digital Song Sales chart throughout the years. The group has pushed 19 tunes onto the tally, and the other 18 have combined for 224 weeks on the list. That’s less than half as long as “Thunderstruck” has held on.

AC/DC Faces No Real Competition

The generation-defining smash also outpaces every other top 10 hit on the current edition of the Rock Digital Song Sales tally. Combined, those nine tunes have accumulated 146 weeks on the ranking — while “Thunderstruck” beats that figure three-and-a-half times over, and still manages to rejoin the loftiest tier on the list.

AC/DC Across the Billboard Charts

“Thunderstruck” isn’t only succeeding on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart this week. It also appears inside the top 10 on both the Hard Rock Streaming Songs and Hard Rock Digital Song Sales tallies as well.